Suspended sentence for woman who launched ‘frenzied' knife attack on man she lured to apartment was too lenient, State argues
The man told gardaí that he walked McGovern home after meeting on a night outThey kissed but she then put herself between him and the door so he couldn't leave and demanded moneyShe later made false claims that he had tried to rape her
Today at 14:32
The fully suspended sentence handed down to a woman who lured a man she met on a night out to her apartment, where she trapped him at knife-point and demanded money before launching a "frenzied" slashing attack, was too lenient, the State has argued.
Susan McGovern (44) with a last address at Barker Place apartments, O'Connell Street, Waterford, pleaded guilty at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court to robbery contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act, 2001.
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Extra.ie
6 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Plumbers' exam springs a leak as apprentices share questions
A state exam for plumbers was leaked, complete with answers, and widely circulated online just days before apprentices sat the test, has learned. Solas, the agency that took over State apprenticeships from Fás in 2013, expressed 'great concern' about the leak and said it is 'taking this matter very seriously'. However, a union for tradespeople this weekend said there are 'a lot of questions about the delivery of apprenticeships and standard of quality assurance' from Solas. An apprentice plumber who sat the leaked test in March told 'This is a QQI Level 6 exam – a State exam higher than the Leaving Cert – and we had questions and answers going in.' He said he was aware of the paper being shared before the exam in WhatsApp groups in at least four technological universities, where the courses are delivered, nationwide. He said he was aware of the paper being shared before the exam in WhatsApp groups in at least four technological universities, where the courses are delivered, nationwide. Pic: DenPhotos/Shutterstock 'There were lads in the class who did not turn up [for classes during the year], did not know the content, and they were getting merits and distinctions, and now they're going out into the world and plumbing,' he said. 'If you put a valve on an uncontrolled heat source, that's a bomb. Pressure builds, it explodes. People have been killed in Ireland in recent years with that. 'If you pipe gas wrong, that can lead to explosions, death. Carbon monoxide, [that can lead to] death.' The apprentice said the exact same theory exam – the final of three taken along with four 'on the job' tests for plumbing – had been used for the previous group, and that lecturers had already 'been complaining' at how 'easy' the papers are. 'The exact words were, 'A monkey would have passed the last one',' he said. 'There were three thick folders of notes, and they prepared us as best they could, covered the entire syllabus, only for the same exam to come up again, word for word. Then a few days before the exam, we got a leaked copy. 'I worked my a**e off. I spent 11 weeks studying, and then there was no need.' Asked if it was aware of the leak, Solas told 'We note this and the details from your query with great concern and are taking this matter very seriously.' Pic: Shutterstock The spokeswoman confirmed 224 people took the two-part exam on the same days in March as the apprentice who spoke to Asked what the pass rate for the exam was, and if the agency has safety concerns about potentially unskilled plumbers passing the leaked exam, the spokeswoman said: 'We are examining the matters raised in your query. Craft apprentices undergo continuous and multiple practical and written assessments throughout the seven phases of their apprenticeship to ensure that they are competent, working safely in the workplace and that their skills levels are up to date and in line with industry standards.' Assistant general secretary with Connect trade union, Brian Nolan, said he was aware of 'accusations of things that compromise the standard', including exam papers being posted on social media. He told the 'In our opinion, there's a lot of questions about the delivery of apprenticeships and the standard of quality assurance, off the job and on the job. 'We represent the workerlearners in the apprenticeships. We taught apprentices before we ever had Fás or AnCO [An Chomhairle Oiliúna, which oversaw apprenticeships until 1987]. We taught them in the workplace. 'And there's a fear here that as quality assurance is slipping, you could have these exam issues.' Mr Nolan said the course was also in danger of 'being led as academic and not vocational'. Pic: Getty Images He said he 'recently raised' the union's concerns about the exams to the Department of Higher Education. Solas said that in March, 'eight different phase 6 plumbing apprenticeship assessments were delivered, each of which was drawn from a range of different papers'. It added: 'Solas is working with its partners in the Technological Universities to identify if the assessment paper you had provided was one of the assessments delivered and if this was the case, we will agree the urgent actions needed to ensure the integrity of the assessment process.' Solas said new apprenticeship curricula 'are being implemented across all craft apprenticeship programmes' this year. 'Alongside this, new question banks for assessments are being developed and rolled out across the system. This is part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the quality and integrity of our apprenticeship programmes and ensure that they meet the highest standards,' it said. The apprentice who spoke to said plenty of apprentices fail their practical exams 'if they aren't up to scratch'. He said: 'It's not that people are just being slapped through. Lecturers are trying their best to train the next generation. 'And it's also not a plumbing issue alone – it's across all the trades. I know there was an audit into some of the electrical papers being leaked [in his institute].' There are 29,347 apprentices across 77 different Solas apprenticeship programme types.
Sunday World
11 hours ago
- Sunday World
Addict was on bail for burglary at time of alleged shoplifting spree, court told
'I stole yeah, but do you not think I need professional help?' Charles Reilly admitted he had stolen in the past to feed a persistent drug habit. A father of two and 'chronic drug user' has been remanded in custody accused of carrying out a shoplifting spree in a midlands town while on bail for burglary and theft related incidents, a court has heard. Thirty-three-year-old Charles Reilly, of River Court, Great Water Street, Longford was brought before a sitting of Longford District Court charged with stealing over €600 worth of clothes and food items from three shops in Longford town over the course of a six week period. Two of those allegedly took place on the same day, on April 11, when Mr Reilly was accused of walking into Durkins, along the town's Ballymahon Street and exiting moments later with €280 worth of men's clothing. Charles Reilly admitted he had stolen in the past to feed a persistent drug habit. Later that same day, Garda Maeve Daly said it will be the alleged Mr Reilly entered Dealz, Market Square to steal almost €50 of food items. The same discount store was allegedly targeted by the accused on May 20, she added, in an incident that resulted in the theft of almost €130 of clothes. Nine days later, Judge Deirdre Gearty was told how Mr Reilly was positively identified on CCTV selecting a number of bedding items before concealing them in a bag and covering the goods with a jacket. In all of the alleged thefts, Mr Reilly was adjudged to have passed all points of payment without making any effort to pay for the near €650 worth of goods which were taken, the contents of which remain outstanding. In a contested bail hearing, the court heard of garda objections to bail under both section 2 of the Bail Act 1997 and O'Callaghan Rules. Garda Daly said despite there being no CCTV available for the second theft which Mr Reilly stood accused of in April, he was found sporting the same attire in both incidents. The court heard how the State's rationale in registering its objection to bail being afforded to Mr Reilly was predicated on fears the sum of goods taken in the alleged thefts may be disposed of by the Longford man. Garda Daly said gardaí likewise harboured fears of possible witness intimidation, a concern which was based on the close proximity of Mr Reilly's home to the shops which had fallen foul of the alleged thefts. Judge Gearty was similarly informed of how Mr Reilly was a 'chronic drug user' and heroin addict who gardaí believed, if granted bail, had the propensity to go on and commit further crimes to feed his addiction. Charles Reilly outside Longford Courthouse. Equally, Garda Daly said the accused was on bail for an alleged burglary in Longford town in early March, in addition to bail which had been sanctioned at the end of February for an alleged theft incident. Part of those conditions, it was added, had obligated Mr Reilly to abide by daily sign on conditions, in an order he had failed to comply with since April 9. John Quinn, defending, contended those anxieties could be suitably addressed by the tabling of a 'substantial' cash lodgement in a vow which would provide the necessary incentive for his client to abide by whatever terms thee court chose to implement. Taking the stand himself, Mr Reilly pledged to adhere to those measures as he came under cross-examination from court presenter for the State, Sgt Enda Daly. 'Your health isn't good,' observed Sgt Daly, as he looked directly at Mr Reilly as he sat in the witness box. 'I know you a long time and I just don't think you look that well at the moment.' The accused, for his part agreed as he revealed how he had recently spent a period of time in hospital. In conceding the addictive challenges he was attempting to curb, Mr Reilly admitted that while he had resorted to crime in the past to feed his drug habit, he was no longer under the influence of heroin. Charles Reilly, the court heard, was already on bail in connection to separate burglary and theft incidents when he was arrested in connection to a string of thefts from retail outlets in Longford town. 'I am taking drugs, but not heroin,' he said. I ran out of money and I did steal, but thank God I am on a methadone programme now.' Sgt Daly, however, said the very fact Mr Reilly was back before the courts facing four separate theft charges indicated otherwise. 'I stole yeah, but do you not think I need professional help?' Mr Reilly snapped in response. 'Prison is not the place for me and I need help.' Judge Gearty, in delivering her verdict, said the State had been 'fully justified' in raising its objections to bail. She said despite Mr Reilly's medical ailments, for which the court empathised with, there were no meaningful conditions which could be applied in order to allay the fears which had been outlined by the State. As such, she stressed the court's decision to refuse bail was grounded on the seriousness of the charges, the strength of evidence presented, the possible intimidation of witnesses, risk of reoffending and addiction issues. He was consequently remanded in custody to appear back via video link at a sitting of Longford District Court next Tuesday (June 10). In making that order, Judge Gearty directed Mr Reilly to receive all appropriate medical attention as part of his remand. Charles Reilly admitted he had stolen in the past to feed a persistent drug habit. Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 June 2025
Sunday World
11 hours ago
- Sunday World
Man allegedly told neighbour he was ‘going to kill him' after row over tree
John Joe Bartley (54) Ranaghan, Castlepollard, Westmeath appeared at a sitting of Mullingar District Court A father of four and his wife were left 'extremely shaken' when their neighbour allegedly told him to ring for an ambulance 'because he was going to kill him' following a heated row over a fallen tree in the wake of Storm Eowyn. John Joe Bartley (54) Ranaghan, Castlepollard, Westmeath appeared at a sitting of Mullingar District Court charged with trespassing and causing €300 worth of damage when he was accused of throwing stones at the window of his victim's home. The court was told how the incident had stemmed from Bartley's attempts to cut a tree that had fallen outside the home of his neighbour on January 31 this year. John Joe Bartley allegedly told his neighbour to phone an ambulance because "he was going to kill him" when the man informed him he was going to contact gardaí, a court has heard. Sgt Sheila Kenny said it will be the State's case that the accused began shouting obscenities when noticing the injured party looking out from his front porch. When the man informed Bartley of his intention to contact gardaí, Judge Bernadette Owens was told it will be alleged the accused advised him on two separate occasions to 'ring an ambulance because he was going to kill him'. Sgt Kenny said the State will also contend how moments later, Bartley attempted to gain entry to his neighbour's home only to find its doors had been locked by the man. Having failed in those attempts, Sgt Kenny said it will be further alleged that Bartley then picked up stones from the ground and began throwing them at a window, causing chips to its glass. The incident, it was alleged, came to a close when Bartley shouted in the direction of the man for a second time before getting behind the wheel of his van and leaving. Sgt Kenny said the man and his wife had been left 'extremely shaken' by the incident with 'upset' also being caused to the couple's four young children who were inside the house at the time. John Joe Bartley outside Mullingar Courthouse. Bartley, who wore blue jeans with a navy and white shirt together with a green jacket to court, did not speak or enter a plea and instead stood quietly alongside his solicitor Louis Kiernan. Having noted the estimated €300 damage which had been caused as a result of the incident, Judge Owens ruled the case was one which could be dealt with in the District Court as she accepted jurisdiction. Mr Kiernan, meanwhile, applied for the disclosure of all relevant State evidence in order to consider his client's position in terms of meeting the case. Judge Owens remanded Bartley on bail to a sitting of Mullingar District Court on September 18. John Joe Bartley outside Mullingar Courthouse. Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 June 2025
